While President Biden said the cost of expanding Medicare could be mitigated, he expressed concern over moderate Democrats who oppose expansion because the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill currently being discussed in the Senate needs to be scaled back, according to The Hill.
“That’s a reach and the reason why it’s a reach — I think it’s a good idea and it’s not that costly in relative terms especially if you allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices,” President Biden said during the town hall. “But here’s the thing — [Sen. Joe] Manchin is opposed to that as is, I think, Sen. [Kyrsten] Sinema.”
President Biden revealed that some related proposals — such as providing $800 dental care vouchers — were gaining traction, but there has been pushback over expanding vision coverage.
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